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Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley announced for Universal Orlando for 2014 with Hogwarts Express, Gringotts ride

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Posted on by Ricky Brigante 38 Comments
Hogwarts Castle illuminated at sunset, perched high above Hogsmeade Village, overlooks the winding river and lush Forbidden Forest as the sky glows in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. Entertainment today announced details of the expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter for their Orlando theme parks. The new area will be called The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, bringing new rides, a restaurant, and shops based on the “Harry Potter” series.

The new area is scheduled to open in 2014, expanding beyond the Islands of Adventure theme park where the existing Wizarding World is located into the Universal Studios Florida theme park, creating a multi-park experience, bringing to life experiences and places found in and around London in the Harry Potter books and films.

Video: Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley announced with artwork

“We are continuing the journey and adding an entirely new level of adventure,” said Tom Williams, Chairman of Universal Parks & Resorts. “And we are bringing the same drive, commitment, enthusiasm and innovation to this project as we did to the first.”

UPDATE: Take a closer look at Diagon Alley through an extensive interview with Universal Creative Senior Vice President Thierry Coup.

Diagon Alley and ‘London’ are already under construction, located in the former location of the Jaws ride, near the San Francisco area of the park.

Guests will be able to travel between the new ‘London’ area and the existing Wizarding World’s Hogsmeade Village aboard the Hogwarts Express – a real working train passing between the two parks.

The marquee attraction of the Diagon Alley area will be based on Gringotts bank, an indoor roller coaster of sorts that will feature plenty of special effects.

Just once piece of concept art has been released so far, offering a glimpse at what Diagon Alley will look like:

Diagon Alley at Universal Studios comes alive at sunset, as visitors explore vibrant cobblestone streets beneath the dramatic sight of a fire-breathing dragon perched atop Gringotts Bank, surrounded by bustling crowds enjoying the immersive Wizarding World experience.

Taking a closer look reveals a few details from the area. A dragon is perched high atop Gringotts Bank as a centerpiece:

The iconic dragon atop Gringotts Bank unleashes a stream of fire over the bustling crowds in Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando Resort, capturing the magical spectacle fans expect from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at sunset.

Streets are lined with shops, including what appears to be Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes in the lower-right:

Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando comes alive at dusk, its bustling cobblestone streets filled with excited visitors surrounded by enchanting shop facades and glowing windows, immersing fans in the magical world of Harry Potter.

But from outside Diagon Alley, guests casually strolling through Universal Studios Florida will only see a London waterfront, a facade designed to hide the Wizarding World from the Muggles:

Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando lit up at night with festive lights, bustling crowds exploring the magical streets, a classic double-decker Knight Bus parked nearby, and the famous wizarding statue creating an enchanting theme park atmosphere.

Parked out front is the instantly-recognizable Knight Bus, which previously made an appearance at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter grand opening at Islands of Adventure:

The iconic Knight Bus from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is parked beside a lively plaza featuring a majestic winged statue, as guests wander through the bustling streets of Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando, fully immersed in magical adventures.

And connecting it all to Hogsmeade Village and the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be the Hogwarts Express train, expected to have innovative visuals while passing between the parks:

Hogwarts Castle towers above a lush forest and winding river at sunset, while the Hogwarts Express weaves through the trees below—capturing the magical adventure awaiting guests in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando.

To bring Diagon Alley and ‘London’ to life, Universal’s creative team is working closely with Warner Bros. and the production design team from the Harry Potter films – just as it did for Hogwarts and Hogsmeade.

“I’m so pleased that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has proved so popular to date, and I’m sure that the attention to detail in creating the new Diagon Alley area will make this an even better experience,” said J.K. Rowling.

“We are thrilled to offer the legions of fans the opportunity to embark on this new journey and experience Diagon Alley as it was brought to life in the books and films,” said Brad Globe, president, Warner Bros. Consumer Products.

Construction on the Wizarding World expansion has been in progress for months, beginning with the demolition of the Jaws ride more than a year ago. A recent look at the San Francisco area of the Universal Studios Florida theme park reveals the waterfront ‘London’ facades taking shape:

Guests explore the bustling streets of Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, surrounded by themed shops, an iconic sign, and construction cranes in the distance beneath a clear blue sky, all contributing to the park’s immersive atmosphere.

Guests stroll by an active construction zone at Universal Orlando, where steel beams, a towering crane, and the visible track of a new roller coaster rise near the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Diagon Alley, teasing exciting upcoming attractions for theme park fans.

Rising steel framework under construction, flanked by two towering cranes against a clear blue sky, with crowds gathered along a fence—an exciting new attraction taking shape at Universal Orlando Resort, evoking the magical grandeur of Diagon Alley in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Steel framework rising as part of a new themed attraction at Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, set against a clear blue sky and evoking the magical architecture of Diagon Alley.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade (the apparent new name for the original area) opened at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in June 2010, entertaining millions of people from around the world since then. And the world will surely be captivated by the construction at Universal Studios Florida as next year’s opening date draws nearer.

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